Breast Feeding Counselor - Washington, United States - Children's National Hospital

Description

Counsel and provide breastfeeding education and support to pregnant and breastfeeding women participating in the WIC Program, for a successful breastfeeding experience. Interact with parents, clients, nutritionists and other staff under moderate supervision in a courteous manner.

Qualifications:
Minimum Education
High School Diploma or GED (Required)

Minimum Experience

Breastfed an infant for at least 6 months (Required)

Current or prior enrollment in the WIC program as a breastfeeding mother (Preferred)

Experience in a health care setting (Preferred)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Demonstrate oral and written communication skills
Customer service skills
Successful completion of the multi-day Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) training, "Loving Support through Peer Counseling" facilitated by State Agency, within 6 months of hiring

Functional Accountabilities
Breastfeeding Support

• Provide support to breastfeeding women to help them choose, initiate, and continue to breastfeed through clinic visits, hospital visits, home visits, and regular telephone contacts.
• Respond to inquiries for breastfeeding support as referred by WIC clinic nutrition staff; refer mothers to the WIC nutrition team, lactation specialist, or private physician for breastfeeding concerns beyond the scope of the peer counselor's expertise.
• Facilitate breastfeeding classes and support groups.
• Attend scheduled monthly meetings and training sessions to increase knowledge in supporting the breastfeeding effort.
• Work under the direction of the local agency BF Coordinator, Lactation consultant or the designated Nutritionist at the assigned site. Ask questions and receive direction from immediate supervisor for any difficulties encountered in performance of duties.

• Complete client charts and forms as needed for breast feeding related matters; maintain follow up notes in the CARES system.
• Maintain a weekly log of time spent in assigned duties for approval by immediate supervisor and BPC supervisor.

• Assist the WIC staff in breastfeeding promotion through special projects and other duties as assigned.
• Stay abreast of WIC policies and procedures and program updates through participation in staff meetings and training sessions as determined necessary by the Local Agency WIC Coordinator and WIC State Breastfeeding Coordinator.
• Respect participant and patient confidentiality protocols.

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance

• Anticipate and responds to customer needs; follows up until needs are met

• Demonstrate collaborative and respectful behavior
• Partner with all team members to achieve goals
• Receptive to others' ideas and opinions

• Contribute to a positive work environment
• Demonstrate flexibility and willingness to change
• Identify opportunities to improve clinical and administrative processes
• Make appropriate decisions, using sound judgment

• Use resources efficiently
• Search for less costly ways of doing things

• Speak up when team members appear to exhibit unsafe behavior or performance
• Continuously validate and verify information needed for decision making or documentation
• Stop in the face of uncertainty and takes time to resolve the situation
• Demonstrate accurate, clear and timely verbal and written communication
• Actively promote safety for patients, families, visitors and co-workers
• Attend carefully to important details - practicing Stop, Think, Act and Review in order to self-check behavior and performance